Colony-forming cells in organ cultures of embryonal liver

Livers from 17- to 20-day CBA mouse embryos were maintained for three weeks in organ culture. During this period, hematopoiesis continued; morphologically recognizable cells were identified until day 24 and hematopoietic cells with colony forming ability were present until day 23. The method appears to hold promise for studies of hematopoietic differentiation in vitro.